More helpful newbie tips needs to be given by Nightfall NPCs

ainkami

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jan 2007

I personally think more newbie tips needs to be given out by Nightfall NPCs. ANet should have an NPC that checks for following things at Consulate Docks. If a newbie player doesn't have the followings things, it should kindly remind him to get it ASAP.

Max armor
Max damage weapon
One superior rune(or 2 major runes)
One health boasting vigor rune
Purchasing skills with earned skill points
Obtain all 200 skill points and distributing attribute points
Having all 8 skillbars filled up.

I'm sure the above things are common sense to most veterans, but I doubt most newbies will remember them from the tutorial. An NPC that does a checklist will really help these players. Players from prophecies had a whole campaign to learn these things, while Nightfall players are rushed to Lv20. Hopefully, a checklist NPC will increase the number of competent PUGers.

P.S. I'm writing this because I partied with a W/Mo with low HP going through Pogahn Passge using only power attack.

leprekan

leprekan

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Oct 2005

Posers and Wannabes [nubs]

W/E

Most of the seriously bad players wouldn't be helped by this ... they would assume they knew better and not read it (too leet to learn). They could be filtered out with chapter 4 with a basic IQ test at the install screen

Duly Thankful

Academy Page

Join Date: Aug 2005

Now that really would reduce the playerbase...

Antheus

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jan 2006

Why superior or major rune?

On a monk I only run minors. So I'd be prevented from continuing? Tanks often run minors only as well.

All 200 skill points? On a MM I'm good to go as soon as I reach 16 death, which is level 14 to 16.

8 skills on skillbar? Yea. A skillbar filled with useless skills. On paragon I think I ran with 4 or 5 only, until I actually racked up some useful skills. Filling the skill bar with useless skills doesn't improve you.

Max damage weapon? So my monk that uses a sword and a shield with attrbitues the class doesn't even have is wrong?

Max armor? Why? Armor is useless unless you know how to play. No ammount of armor will keep a squishie alive if they prefer to tank.

A vigor rune? Well, it helps. But it's not even needed. What if I'm playing a bip, or SF assassin? Or, god forbid, a 55.

The real problem is, getting rushed there. But hey, that's an exploit in the first place.

Level 20 for docks? Meh. Level 3 Koss, 14 tahikora, 9 dunkoro, me at 17. And it was a party with bonus completed as well. Nothing before Vabbi requires level 20. And nothing should ever hint that is the case.

But almost all of those advices aren't absolute, and serve as unfair discriminator. Especially, since none of those is really required.

Tagon

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Sep 2006

C O T P

R/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by ainkami
One superior rune(or 2 major runes)
I disagree with this one. Some times the benifits of the higher runes do not make up for the health loss. I think it would be better if the rune quest that gave you a vigor rune explained more detail about runes in general Instead of just having you go grab some dye in the river and giving you a minor vigor. Explain more about the runes and give the character a choice of any minor rune the class can use

Tachyon

Tachyon

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

Stoke, England

The Godless [GOD]

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by leprekan
They could be filtered out with chapter 4 with a basic IQ test at the install screen
Hell yeah, now that's an idea I would be completely happy with. Especially after some of the cretins I've had the misfortune to PUG with in the past.

sixdartbart

sixdartbart

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jun 2005

Peace Machine GRRR [DiE]

W/N

Quote:
Originally Posted by leprekan
They could be filtered out with chapter 4 with a basic IQ test at the install screen
I hate petitions but

/signs petition

Darcy

Darcy

Never Too Old

Join Date: Jul 2006

Rhode Island where there are no GW contests

Order of First

W/R

High IQ doesn't make you a good player. You need common sense, which is something you have to learn through trial and error.

To be a great player, you need common sense, good reflexes and tactical skills. That description probably fits about 1% of the players (and doesn't include me).

lg5000

lg5000

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2005

Australia

Quote:
Originally Posted by leprekan
Most of the seriously bad players wouldn't be helped by this ... they would assume they knew better and not read it (too leet to learn). They could be filtered out with chapter 4 with a basic IQ test at the install screen
Hm.. they'd just get someone smart to install it for them

mega_jamie

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2006

UK

Warlords of Ruin

A/Mo

would you like an NPC before Co-op missions telling you the best builds to win as well?

GW isnt abount hand-holding, whats the worst that can happen, they will take a bit longer to get past the docks?

Omega X

Omega X

Ninja Unveiler

Join Date: Jun 2005

Louisiana, USA

Boston Guild[BG]

W/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by mega_jamie
GW isnt abount hand-holding, whats the worst that can happen, they will take a bit longer to get past the docks?
Those new people would quit and spread the world that Guild Wars is a bad game to play.

ANET already knows that they need a layer of information so that New players can understand and play the game competently enough.

I personally think that that layer needs a bit more info.

Either that or someone isn't reading.

Malice Black

Site Legend

Join Date: Oct 2005

Anet should just advertise Guru and Wiki once in a while.

Example in red lettering: "Visit Guild Wars Guru for all your Guild Wars needs".

The NPC would mainly get ignored IMO. My solution would been seen by everyone.

A simple click could turn this on/off for those that woould class this as "spam".

Zinger314

Zinger314

Debbie Downer

Join Date: May 2006

N/Me

"Press Alt + F4 for free gold!"

It's best to learn by Social Darwinism.

ken71880

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Nov 2006

W/R

I play a tank, using swords. I do not like this suggestion, for one, I find most major runes worthless to me, I do occasionally use minor runes when I find one that interest me. In terms of Max armor, if anyone is at all smart, you buy that armor when you get to the docks, if you can't afford at least the chest piece and the leggings, (especially if you are a Nightfall character) then you are not ready to move on. I think the best advice we can honestly have is if your character is (much) lower then the Henchmen, you probably will not be able to win without serious help from others. If no one would accept a level 15-19 character for the mission, the player will eventually learn that he/she need to be a higher character or try to do it by themself. Anet does not nor should control how we play - the players can do some of that themselves just fine.

Ken71880

escoffier

escoffier

Academy Page

Join Date: Nov 2006

known-destination:unknown

bawls deep [pron]

Rt/W

Quote:
Originally Posted by leprekan
Most of the seriously bad players wouldn't be helped by this ... they would assume they knew better and not read it (too leet to learn). They could be filtered out with chapter 4 with a basic IQ test at the install screen
still laughing ....great idea!

Not A Fifty Five

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2006

Creating guild

Mo/

/signed

I don't think most people even remember their newbie stage and how crappy they were. My first character, e.g. was a blood necro that I built to be a tank from health earned on life siphon. By the desert, I could beat my dopple at level 16 and by the end I eventually changed into a battery. The time of "newbieness" was rather short so I don't remember it much, but I can definately say I wouldn't party with me (then) at thunderhead keep if I were me (now) if I (then) hadn't taken the advice of the OP.

Dark Dragon

Dark Dragon

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jul 2006

RTD

E/

i remember what it was like (being new) by typing /deaths :P

but in all seriousness i think that more tips are needed in the newbie area, not sure what would been seen as helpful, but currently i think that it is lacking for somone who is completely new.

ainkami

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jan 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Antheus
Why superior or major rune?

On a monk I only run minors. So I'd be prevented from continuing? Tanks often run minors only as well.
There is absolutely no reason not to use superior runes in pve. The only reason to use minor runes is to increase hp against high damage spikes. There is never that high of a damage spike in pve. We are on the 3rd Chapter, you should have figured this out by now.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Antheus
All 200 skill points? On a MM I'm good to go as soon as I reach 16 death, which is level 14 to 16.
Most characters require 200 attribute points to be effective. MM requires high soul reap to be effective. 16 in death won't do you any good if you don't have the energy to raise your minions.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Antheus
8 skills on skillbar? Yea. A skillbar filled with useless skills. On paragon I think I ran with 4 or 5 only, until I actually racked up some useful skills. Filling the skill bar with useless skills doesn't improve you.
Most paragon spear skills are adrenaline based. There is no reason not to fill your skillbar up with these spear skills if you have the room.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Antheus
Max damage weapon? So my monk that uses a sword and a shield with attrbitues the class doesn't even have is wrong?
Max damage weapon obviously only applies to damage class. NPC can just check and recommend a max energy +10staff or +12offhand for magic users.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Antheus
Max armor? Why? Armor is useless unless you know how to play. No ammount of armor will keep a squishie alive if they prefer to tank.
Completely wrong. There are many Leeroys in the game and most PUGs still get through with them. However, if you lack armor, damage spikes will kill you before your monk can heal you.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Antheus
A vigor rune? Well, it helps. But it's not even needed. What if I'm playing a bip, or SF assassin? Or, god forbid, a 55.
The npc is there to help provide a checklist. You don't have to follow it. But most newbies and most builds will benefit from a vigor rune.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Antheus
The real problem is, getting rushed there. But hey, that's an exploit in the first place.

Level 20 for docks? Meh. Level 3 Koss, 14 tahikora, 9 dunkoro, me at 17. And it was a party with bonus completed as well. Nothing before Vabbi requires level 20. And nothing should ever hint that is the case.
The consulate docks mission gives you sunspear battlechant. Nothing following this mission gives you the bonus of raising your HP to lv20 level. It is true that nothing in the game requires Lv20. However, being below Lv20 means you will be taking more damage and you will be less effective in dealing damage. Both make it harder for newbies to complete missions.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Antheus
But almost all of those advices aren't absolute, and serve as unfair discriminator. Especially, since none of those is really required.
If you read my post carefully, I clearly said the NPC is there to provide a checklist. You don't have to follow it, but I think most newbies will benefit from the checklist of common sense things to do.

azathothx

azathothx

Academy Page

Join Date: Nov 2006

Cork, Ireland

Heros of Titans Realm [HotR]

R/P

Isn't there a manual that comes with the game? I have three of them now. Maybe if people actually read them before running around screaming and shouting at people in the sunspear great hall this wouldn't be so much of a problem. There are numerous excellent sources of information for guild wars players. Wikis, forums and the aforementioned manuals to name just three. Any more NPC dialogue would just be a waste of ANets valuable time. And who knows, implementation of this could postpone an auction house, storage upgrades or haircuts for toons (my default answer to any meaningless idea ).

rezabm

rezabm

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jan 2006

Nightshift Resurrection

R/

Can't wait to see Koss telling me in the middle of the battle that my armor sucks big time and that I should get better one! Or Dunkoro in Command Post criticizing my attribute points distribution! Or Zhed asking me why I have echo and mending on my skill bar at the same time! It would be a lot of fun

HawkofStorms

HawkofStorms

Hall Hero

Join Date: Aug 2005

E/

Quote:
Originally Posted by azathothx
Isn't there a manual that comes with the game? I have three of them now. Maybe if people actually read them before running around screaming and shouting at people in the sunspear great hall this wouldn't be so much of a problem. There are numerous excellent sources of information for guild wars players. Wikis, forums and the aforementioned manuals to name just three. Any more NPC dialogue would just be a waste of ANets valuable time. And who knows, implementation of this could postpone an auction house, storage upgrades or haircuts for toons (my default answer to any meaningless idea ).
Exactly. I got better at this game by trying to find information out. I went to these forums, I asked guildies, etc. The information is already out there. Although it could help some people, the idiots screaming "where is the command center?" over and over again in the Sunspear Santcuary just can't be helped.

You Lose...Again

You Lose...Again

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Jan 2007

In my secret hideout...WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME.........AAAAAAAH!!

Rulers of Legendary Light (ROLL)

R/

stupid newbs should learn themselves... we had to figure it out so should they
/not signed